This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Laws, Hampton, Barnett Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/RgB.2ACE/525.1.1.1 Message Board Post: In tracking movement of the Laws, Hamptons, and Barnetts along with other associated surnames, they almost always moved together or to an area near a settled kinsman for support. With the number of Laws and Hamptons in Monroe, it seems likely that a few of them were some level of relation. After Martha (Laws) Hampton's husband Asa died in 1849, Martha found herself with two children, Monroe & Malinda, under two years of age along with five older children. Her support may have moved or was unwilling to continue, and she had to move back to Washington Co., TN 10 Aug 1852. Since Malinda died a month after the move, she may have been in poor health. There were three likely support families in Washington Co.: Welcome & Cassa Laws, dwelling 1161, P-191A, 1850 census (plus daughter Nancy Smithpeter & five children); Jesse & Mary Hampton, dwelling 889, P-165A; Wm. & Sussanah Laws, dwelling 1133, P-183A. In 1857, Martha's son Jason Riley Hampton wrote his uncle Jesse and aunt R! ebecca Barnett a letter asking about economic conditions in Illinois, and his possible prospects there. Apparently it is the only document he signed as Jason. Even his Union civil war pension application has only Riley. He signed his mother's name under his, and asked that return mail be sent to Blue Plume post office. Blue Plum was the first post office near what was to become Johnson City, TN. By 1860 census, the family's mailing address was Coxes' Store, Washington Co. I want to commend you on the excellent work you did on the Smithpeter, Ward, & Bradley surnames out of Carter & Johnson Co., TN., and the connection to Hamilton Co., IL. I was the fourth generation Barnett born in Hamilton Co., IL after my gg-grandfather Jesse moved there in 1852. His farm was just a short distance East of Thackeray. Small world. I will forward any Laws connections I run across. Neither Jesse or Rebecca could read or write, and apparently they didn't talk very much either because almost nothing is known of their parents or siblings, or where they lived in the East TN area. If you ever run across a connection to Martha or Rebecca Laws, I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks. Herman Barnett